A study from Kerala demonstrates that natural resources can be managed sustainably and fairly with the right institutional support and community involvement, refuting the notion that commons are destined to fail. Freshwater bodies like ponds play a crucial role in water provisioning, especially for the poor, in many rural areas of India. These small-scale reservoirs also serve the domestic purposes of bathing, washing, cleaning, and as social gathering spots for dependent communities. However, increasing pressures from market forces, environmental degradation, and state neglect are posing challenges for equitable access to water resources, and for sustaining the ecological health of these ponds. Despite that, the dependency of rural communities on ponds for their everyday life and livelihoods is high.